Halifax Walmart removing piece of equipment after worker found dead

Yellow tape remains at the front entrance of the Halifax Walmart store on, Nov. 7. It has not reopened since the death of Gursimran Kaur. (Gareth Hampshire/CBC - image credit)
Yellow tape remains at the front entrance of the Halifax Walmart store on, Nov. 7. It has not reopened since the death of Gursimran Kaur. (Gareth Hampshire/CBC - image credit)

The commercial bakery oven where a 19-year-old woman was found dead in a Halifax Walmart is being removed, the company has said.

The body of Gursimran Kaur, who was an employee of the store, was discovered there on Oct. 19.

A few days later, Nova Scotia's Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration placed a stop-work order on the bakery and a piece of equipment.

The order was lifted on the evening of Oct. 28 when "compliance was confirmed" according to the department.

A statement from Walmart described the situation as "extremely sad and difficult."

The company said removing the oven had always been part of a standard remodel program being implemented across the country.

"Now that the stop-work order has been lifted by the Department of Labour, the oven will be removed from this store and will no longer be used," the statement said.

The department said its investigation is ongoing but did not share further details. Its website says workplace investigations involving major accidents or fatalities can take up to two years to complete.

Gursimran Kaur was remembered as a 'gentle spirit' at a candelight vigil outside the Walmart Sunday night.
Gursimran Kaur was remembered as a 'gentle spirit' at a candelight vigil outside the Walmart Sunday night.

Gursimran Kaur was remembered as a 'gentle spirit' at a candelight vigil outside the Walmart Sunday night. (Maritime Sikh Society Executive/GoFundMe)

Halifax Regional Police have no new information to share on the case.

Police previously said their investigation is also complex, involves several partner agencies and could take a significant amount of time.

A memorial of flowers that was outside the store has been taken down.

Walmart has not said when the store will reopen.

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